Policy & Process

“KIPP Texas prohibits discrimination, including harassment, against any employee on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by law. An employee who believes that he or she has experienced misconduct or believes that another employee has experienced misconduct should immediately report the alleged acts. The employee may report the alleged acts to his or her supervisor or through a self reporting Professional Standards Report form. Upon receipt or notice of a report, the Human Resources department shall determine whether the allegations constitute misconduct as defined by this policy. If the allegations rise to a policy violation, an internal investigation will be initiated.

Definitions:

• Employee: For the purposes of this policy, ’employee’ includes employees performing work under regular, continuous employment and former employees of KIPP Texas.
• Discrimination: Discrimination against an employee is defined as conduct directed at an employee on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by law, that adversely affects the employee’s employment.
• Misconduct: For the purposes of this policy, misconduct includes discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, and retaliation, even if the behavior does not rise to the level of unlawful conduct.
• Harassment: Harassment of an employee is defined as physical, verbal, or nonverbal conduct based on an employee’s race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other basis prohibited by law, when the conduct is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that the conduct:
  • Has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the employee’s work performance;
  • Creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile, or offensive work environment; or Otherwise adversely affects the employee’s performance, environment, or employment opportunities.
• Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination defined as unwelcome sexual advances; requests for sexual favors; sexually motivated physical, verbal, or nonverbal conduct; or other conduct or communication of a sexual nature when:
  • Submission to the conduct is either explicitly or implicitly a condition of an employee’s employment;
  • Submission to or rejection of the conduct is the basis for an employment action affecting the employee; or
  • The conduct is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the employee’s work performance or creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile, or offensive work environment.
  • Sexual harassment may include the above conduct between persons of the same gender.
• Retaliation: KIPP Texas prohibits retaliation against an employee who makes a claim alleging to have experienced discrimination or harassment, or another employee who, in good faith, makes a report of harassment or discrimination, serves as a witness, or otherwise participates in an investigation. Retaliation against anyone involved in the complaint process is a violation of KIPP Texas policy and is prohibited.”